Improvement in water-indicators for steam-generators



F- CHALFANT. 7 Water lniiicator for. sieam Generators.

Patented June 26, 1866.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. \i

FRANKLIN OHALFANT, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-INDICATORS FOB STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,819, dated June 26, 1866.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, FRANKLIN OHALFANT, of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Determining the Act ual Weight or Body of Water within Steam- Boilers, and to indicate theincrease or decrease of the same; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of my libratory apparatus, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary boiler with my vibrating column and pipes in place. Fig. 2is a front elevation or head of the same; Fig. 3, illustrations of my antifriction and non-corrosive steam-pipe joints or knuckles.

The object of my invention is to provide a means that will trulyindicate the actual amount of water there is at all times within a steamboiler and the fluctuations of the same, and not liable to mislead, as do the test-cocks, by

the ebullition of the water throwing up afrothy spray, and thus indicating the presence of water, often far above its actual level.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to 'describe its construction and operation.

I provide a cylindrical column, F, rather longer than the outside diameter of the boilerhead A, and of a proportionate diameter-say as 1 to 6. This cylinder is of equal diameter with an open or inverted hollow cone or funnel-form top and bottom cap f. This hollow vertical and vibrating column is connected above and below with the steam-pipe knuckles G O, and these are severally connected by an elbowed pipe, E E, with the several knuckles O 0, as shown, and these latter knuckles are connected, -O by the elbowed pipe B centrally with the top of the boiler, and knuckles 0 by a like pipe, D, entering the bottom of the boiler centrally. These pipes are open to the passage of water within the boiler through the knuckles and column, and also open above the column in like manner for the return of the steam (that may be disengaged) to the interiorof the boiler.

The elbowed pipes E 0 have their bearings G within the knuckles on each side of a chamber, M, which chamber has a screw neckor collar, or is otherwise open to or connected with the pipe D B or column F by its neck, above or beneath, according to its place in the upper or lower connection with the boiler and column, as shown. Each end of said pipes E E is bent at right angles and enters one side of the boss or knuckle through its entire length, having a screw-thread, I, into which the headed screw J is inserted after the washers L and anti-friction disks K are inserted, surrounding the pipe on each side of the central chamber and bearings, Within which chamber there is a hole, H, in the pipe, admitting the water within said chamber to the pipe connected therewith. These pipes E E, although perfectly steam -tight, are nevertheless so constructed by the intervention of the soapstone disks K, accurately fitted to the turned projectingcylindrical ends of the knuckles outside of the central bearings or chamber. These soap-stone disks or diaphragms were the result of'much study and research for a substance that would resist heat, work smoothly and without a lubricating agent, non-corrosive in its nature, and uniform in its texture and action, in order to secure a tight joint without binding or becoming clogged, which several important conditions are obtained by the use of the soap-stone disks, never heretofore applied for such a purpose, and hence its application is as novel as it is found important or useful.

The operation is such that when the column F is adjusted to the several knuckles and pipeconnections with the boiler, as shown, the water within the boiler will find its level within the column, whether it rises or falls. This column or hollow cylinder will have an increase or decrease in the weight of the water within it at any given time, and if suspended to or resting upon a springbalance graduated and adapted so as to indicate the weight of the column and contents as it vibrates up or down by the augmentation or diminution of the water within it, the actual weight of water can be seen at a glance to the scale or balance applied, adjusted, and properly graduated for the purpose.

It is not necessary to say that the pressure of the steam, being equal, will not affect my pipes within the chambered bosses or knuckles, having their bearings on both sides of said chamber, and secured by means of the Washers, disks, and headed screw, will admit the water freely to the weighing or libra-tory watercolumn without arresting its vibratory motions or interfering with its office in order to indicate, as aforesaid, the weight or ratio of Water within the boiler with which it is connected.

I am not aware that this or a similar mode has ever been employed for weighing the water Within boilers. Nor am I aware that soapstone has ever before been employed in securing steam or hot-water joints or knuckles.

My invention does not embrace the springscale, nor precise manner of adjusting it, as this can be applied in various ways or at various points of said column, nor to any guide or FRANKLIN OHALFANT.

Witnesses:

GHAs. K. FRAILEY, JACOB STAUFFER. 

